Dennis Ziegler, president of the Memorial Day committee of the Allen O. Delke Post 16 American Legion, Slatington, said the post toured 12 cemeteries beginning 95 years ago. At that time there were 2,600 flags and each person's name was called out and recorded. The tours continued on Sunday and Memorial Day with a program to honor the fallen.

The Legion also sponsors the Memorial Day ceremony in Slatington, which is held in either Fairview or Union cemeteries each year. Ziegler said the visitors should be proud to be there.Committee member Charles Miller is responsible for setting up the area for the program, which at Fairview includes the stage. It is a 1968 Kaiser M36A2 cargo truck owned by Michael Marino, who also owns other military vehicles."We ask you to support us as we honor veterans," said The Rev. Aaron Smith during the invocation. He is from the Northern Lehigh Bible Fellowship Church in Walnutport.Music is provided by the Northern Lehigh Band, which played an opening selection and then "God Bless America."In an opening prayer, Smith said, "We pray for our soldiers in 150 countries away from family and friends, and those who are in the hospital trying to regain their health."Slatington Mayor Walter Niedermeyer thanked all who came to honor service members for their courage and dedication. Memorial Day began as Decoration Day when women in southern states went to the cemeteries and decorated the graves of both Confederate and Union soldiers. We give medals and ribbons, but those will not replace the men and women for the famlies left behind, he said.Ziegler introduced the speaker, retired Brig. Gen. Stephen J. Ressler of the U.S. Army. He lives in Walnutport and was valedictorian of the Northampton High School Class of 1975. He was fourth in his class at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York.He was commissioned as an officer in the Corps of Engineers. Ressler served as an engineer in the United States, Europe and Central Asia. He became a member of the faculty at West Point. His passion is engineering education.He is president of Engineering Encounters, which sponsors an Engineering Encounters Bridge Design Contest for middle and high schoolers.Ressler said he is honored to have the opportunity to speak on this special day. That the audience members could be having fun but were there to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice says something about them also.On May 2, 1915, there was a gas attack on the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Doctors were treating the casualties. One had a dear friend who was killed and buried adjacent to the aide station. Col. John McCrae vented his anger as he looked over the burial grounds and scribbled 15 lines of what was to become the best-known war poem, "In Flanders Field."Ressler said the third stanza is often omitted and he thinks it is because the stanza's essence is too warlike with the words "We throw the torch."They are powerful words as important as it is for us to remember, but that's not enough. It is our duty to take up the torch. Let us continue the fight and as citizens support the troops who place themselves between evil and us.He concluded, "We must honor them."Ziegler read a "Eulogy for Veterans" and Smith gave the benediction.The Legion presented its memorial service including a rifle salute and the playing of taps by Scott Schaeffer and Jess Troxell.